This week had to be the worst of her life. Her mother got worse every day. It was now two bottles of vodka instead of just one. Her father wasn't back yet. He didn't even call once. He knew how much Miss Valentine blamed Cat, and yet he left her alone with her. Cat believed it was because he believed that himself. The yelling got louder every day. Cat tried to ignore it, but it hurts. It hurts when your own mother hates you.
Cat had been avoiding everyone that week. She didn't answer almost any messages. The only two she would answer were Jade's and Tori's, and that would always be a simple "I'm fine." It was the end of classes that week and Cat was placing her books in her locker. Tori was locking at her. She was worried, yet she didn't know how to approach Cat in this situation. She tried. She really did, but Cat either avoided her or acted as always. But now, when she thinks she is alone, her smile drops. Tori had to try something at least. She walked over to her redheaded friend.
"Hey Cat. Do you have any plans for the weekend?" Cat only shook her head. Tori's face dropped a bit. She could see that something was wrong. Hell, everyone knew that something was wrong.
"Cat, what's wrong? You've been acting weird all week…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Cat cut her off, but the energy she always had in that statement wasn't there. She seemed tired, burned out.
"What I mean is, you've been avoiding us all week. Cat, I'm worried. If something is wrong, you can always talk to me." Cat stood the silent, her eyes on her feet, her skirt, more precisely. She was thinking about telling Tori, simply showing her the cuts and pour her heart out to her. But she couldn't. She didn't want to. She deserved all this. It was her fault after all.
Tori looked at Cat and sighed sadly. She placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Look, if I did something and you don't trust me, I'm sorry. But at least talk to someone. I can see that something is wrong. You know that Jade would tell you the same thing."
Cat looked at Tori. She saw the concern in Tori's eyes. She felt bad for worrying Tori, but she didn't deserve help. She needed to tell her something so Tori would quit asking.
"It's just my parents are arguing all the time. It makes me a bit sad, but it's nothing too bad. I'm fine." She said and faked a smile as well as she could.
"Oh. I'm sorry. If there is anything I can do to help you, let me know. Okay?"
"Kay-kay." Cat said before hugging Tori around the waist. Tori wrapped her arms around the smaller girl. Cat pulled away after a moment.
"I have to go home. It's already late. Can you give me a ride?" Cat asked, her puppy face mode already on. Tori just smiled.
"Of course I can. Let's go." Tori answered and they left. The ride was quiet. Tori didn't push it any further. She knew that Cat would tell her when she was ready. Tori also knew that what Cat had told her was not the complete truth, but for now, she would let her be. They finally arrived at the Valentine house.
"Thanks for the ride. See you tomorrow." Cat said and left. Tori drove away to her home. She needed to be patient. It would be hard, but she had to do it for Cat's sake.
When Cat entered the house, she was shocked. The house was a complete mess. The furniture was moved around; there were empty bottles all around the floor. Miss Valentine was laying on the couch, drunk as hell.
"Mom?" Cat called her. She was worried. What if her mother finally overdid it? Was she ok?
She got her answer quickly. Miss Valentine got up. Her balance was not the best. She looked over at Cat. Her eyes were filled with rage.
"5 days. 5 days since your father left me here alone with you! I don't know if there is a worse punishment than this. Being left here to rot with the retard I have to call daughter. Tell me, why didn't you die that day? Why did you take Michael away from me? Why?" She yelled. Cat was silent. Her eyes were filled with tears. She didn't answer anything. She didn't know what to answer.
"You took him away on purpose, didn't you? You always hated your brother. He was the smart one, the good one. Not like you." She grabbed Cat by the hair and started pulling. Cat screamed in pain. "I wish you were dead! I wish it had been you that day! Why didn't you die? Why? Tell me why!" She yelled at her and pushed her into the wall. Cat was crying. She was struck by guilt more than ever now. It was her fault. He came to pick her up. If it hadn't been for her, her brother would still be alive.
"I'm sorry mom. I know it's my fault. I wish myself I had died instead of him." Cat said trough sobs and ran up into her room.
What no one realized is that someone had heard everything. Jade came over to Cat's place to return the history book Cat had given Jade two weeks ago. Jade wanted to give it back to her since Monday, but Cat had been avoiding them. She intended to speak to Cat a bit too. Maybe even plan the weekend for them. When she arrived at the door and intended to knock, she heard the argument taking place. The first thing she felt was anger. She couldn't believe what she heard. How can anyone blame Cat for Michael's death? How can a mother call her own kid all these names? How can she say to her own child that she wished she had died instead of someone else? But just as Jade was ready to kick the door down, she heard Cat's answer. The moment she heard that, her heart broke. She dropped the book she was carrying. She started running. She could barely see anything because of the tears. After a little while she was in front of the Vega house. She knocked like crazy, still trying to catch her breath. She heard a "I'll be right there." Good, Tori was home. After what seemed an eternity, Tori finally opened the door, her expression changing to shock as soon as she saw her crying friend.
"Jade! What happened?" She asked in shock, placing a hand on Jades back. The Goth was still trying to catch her breath. She spoke trough quick draws.
"Cat… argument… her mother… brother…" Jade managed to utter out.
"What?" Tori asked, more confused than before. Finally Jade managed to formulate a normal sentence.
"I was just at Cat's place to bring her back the history book. I heard them argue. I heard what her mother said to her. Tori, her mother is blaming her for Michaels dead. And Cat is blaming herself too. Please, we have to get there before she does something stupid." Jade cried out. Tori's expression became a mixture of shock and fury.
"Wait in the car." She said and ran upstairs. She grabbed Trina's car keys and a big sports bag. She got in the car, where Jade was already waiting and they drove off.
The ride was hectic. Tori was filled with anger while Jade seemed to be close to breaking herself. After 5 minutes they were in front of the Valentine's house.
"Jade, listen to me. We are going to get in there, get Cat and her things and then leave. You and her will stay at my place." Jade nodded, still crying.
"Listen, we have to be strong these few minutes. For Cat!" Tori said. Jade looked at her friend and slowly calmed down. It's good they were all actors, so hiding emotions was something they were really good at. They got out and went into the house. They ignored the mess the house was and went straight upstairs. The opened the door to Cat's room. Jade almost lost it again, while Tori got even angrier than before at Miss Valentine.
Cat was sitting in the corner of her room, the blade in her hand and a fresh wound on her thigh. She looked up and saw her friends. She was stunned. She didn't say a word, but her expression said more that a million could describe. It was a mixture of shock, shame, but mostly fear. Tori opened Cat's closet and slowly started placing Cat's things in the gym bag. Jade in the meantime took away Cat's blade and led the smaller girl to the bathroom. She sat her down on the bathtub and took out the first aid kit. She slowly bandaged Cat's leg. No words were spoken. A minute later all three girls were outside in the first floor. Finally Cat spoke up.
"What are you doing?" she asked. Her voice was barely above a whisper. Tori placed her hand on Cat's shoulder.
"You are coming with us. We won't let anybody hurt you ever again." Tori said softly. Cat looked over at Jade, who nodded in support of Tori's statement. They went downstairs, but before they could get out, Miss Valentine appeared next to them.
"Where do you think you are going?" the drunk woman asked. Tori didn't even look at her; she didn't want to waste a single moment on that shame of a woman.
"We are taking her with us. You hurt her enough." Tori answered in a cold voice. Miss Valentine looked over at her daughter.
"I hurt her? I hurt her? She is the reason Michael is dead! She is the reason Walter left me. Take her! I should have gotten rid of her sooner. Maybe then that little retard wouldn't have ruined my life. That little whore. That sl…" She was cut off with a right hook that floored the drunk woman. If looks could kill, Miss Valentine would be dead in a moment. Jade's glare was the scariest thing anyone probably had ever seen. She was mad.
"Shut the fuck up you drunk bitch! It's not her fault you are a drunken waste of air! It's your responsibility! You are the mother! You hurt your daughter and drove your husband away yourself! Get a fucking grip and take responsibility instead of blaming your angel of daughter!" Jade growled at the drunk woman, who was in shook. Cat couldn't believe what she heard. This was the first time since Michael's death someone stood on her side against her mother. Jade took Cat's hand and led her to Tori's car. They got in and drove off. The worst part was finally over.